Consultant says allegations hurt his business

Planning consultant Richard Lynn has described how corruption allegations about him have had a profound effect on his business and personal life.

Mr Lynn said he lost business and had been subject to "smart remarks" since he was subjected at the tribunal to the allegations, which he denies.

He criticised the tribunal for airing an allegation by PR consultant Bill O'Herlihy, who claimed last month that Mr Lynn told him county councillors were being bought for their support on planning matters.

Since this evidence, Mr Lynn said, his phone had gone silent in relation to new business and one client had asked him not to attend a meeting with Kildare County Council because he felt it might be damaging. Negotiations about three new ventures had also gone silent. He had been subjected to nudges and winks, and all types of smart remarks had been made about him on the golf course.

Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon said this was an unfortunate byproduct of tribunal appearances. The tribunal was unable to control this and accepted that it sometimes resulted in damage to a person's reputation.

Mr Lynn asked whether it had been necessary to mention Mr O'Herlihy's allegation about him in the tribunal's opening statement and he asked why there was such a delay in calling him to give evidence after Mr O'Herlihy.

Patricia Dillon SC, for the tribunal, said it had been decided not to call Mr Lynn until all the allegations about him had been heard. No request had been received from his lawyers for an earlier hearing.

Mr Lynn said it was totally unbelievable that there could be any link between the donations Monarch gave and any particular planning result. Only a "fool" would tie in the two things in any way.